Alan Rough urges people of Hamilton to get right behind Accies' Premiership campaign

Ex-Accies keeper says Alex Neil's side deserve all the backing they can get in their quest for top-flight survival.

Former Hamilton goalkeeper Alan Rough wants the people of Hamilton to get right behind Alex Neil's side as they step up to the Premiership

Former Hamilton keeper Alan Rough has urged the New Douglas Park club’s supporters to get right behind Alex Neil’s side as they tackle the SPFL Premiership next season.

‘Roughie’, who was speaking as he helped promote the Saints and Sinners Racenight at Hamilton Park tonight (Thursday), was delighted to see Accies reach the top flight and felt they and Dundee deserved promotion from the SPFL Championship.

Former Scotland shot-stopper Alan (62) reckons Accies would do well to follow the example set by another of his old clubs, Partick Thistle, who survived the top flight last term.

He said: “Things have changed so much since I was at Hamilton,100 per cent. There’s no doubt about it.

“They’re more professional, more organised and the owners there are 100 per cent behind the club — they just need to get more supporters in.

“Supporters need to start backing the owners, the players, because what they’ve done for the area is absolutely amazing. It’s time they started backing everything Hamilton are doing.

“When you’re in the Premiership, you’re going to be playing against bigger clubs, so let’s get behind them.”

Alan (pictured right), a commentator at PLZ Soccer, added: “I was very impressed with the style of football that Hamilton play and it was great to see them go up. Playing all the games and getting through the play-offs must have been a hard, hard shift for them.

“The style of football was good. Any time I saw them, it was entertaining and there were goals involved as well. I thought that division was super.

“I think it’s good that both Dundee and Hamilton went up, because it gives them a sense that they’re not the only one there in that situation. But I don’t think they’ll be kidding themselves that they won’t be in the bottom six, and that it’s about surviving.

“Alex Neil has got a right good community there, right from the board of directors to the players, and it’s great for the Hamilton supporters that he’s adding some players in, because it’s going to be a hard shift for them next season.

“I think they will be looking at Partick Thistle, at how they did. They were in the same situation, but handled themselves really well, brought in proper players — and I think that’s what Hamilton are doing.

“Alex Neil has the nucleus of a squad there, but I’m sure he will be given money. They need to grow and build for the future, they’ve brought in some good players, and there will be more coming in, too.

“There will be players out there who will fancy the Premiership, and I’m sure they will have their feelers out to add another two or three.”

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